US stands by envoy remark on infiltration

25 September 2002The Asian Age

Islamabad: US has told Pakistanís foreign minister Inamul Haq that its assessment of increase in cross border infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir in the recent past was based on evidence and Islamabad must put a halt to it. US officials told Mr Haq, who is visiting Washington, that American ambassador to India Robert Blackwillís remarks that infiltration across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir has increased were backed by evidence. According to the Washington datelined reports in the Pakistani media the recent critical remarks on cross-border infiltration from Pakistan made by Mr Blackwill were also ''duly cleared'' by the Bush administration. The reports said the Bush administration has sent a strong message to President Pervez Musharraf through Mr Haq that US expects ''full restoration of democracy'' in Pakistan. The messages were conveyed to Mr Haq during his meetings with secretary of state Colin Powell, deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice in Washington.